Nora Häuptle turns down GFA contract extension, heads to Zambia

Ghana’s Black Queens coach, Nora Häuptle, has left her role and is set to take over as head coach of Zambia’s women’s national team, according to Zambian journalist Augustine Mukoka.

Häuptle will reportedly sign a two-year contract with Zambia, earning a monthly salary of $7,000, JoySports has gathered.

Her appointment was approved by the Executive Committee of the Zambia FA on Saturday, 21 December, and her contract is ready for signing.

The Swiss coach’s departure comes after failed negotiations with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to renew her contract, per JoySports sources.

Sources reveal that the GFA offered Häuptle a $6,000 monthly salary and a $5,000 bonus in preparation for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Morocco in June 2025.

However, she declined, reportedly seeking $12,000 instead.

While GFA leadership was expected to lead further negotiations, it appears these discussions never materialised.

Though sources close to her could not confirm authoritatively that Nora Häuptle has left her role, they said they are not surprised by the news of her departure.

Häuptle’s frustrations with the GFA’s inability to support her team’s preparation also contributed to her exit.

One notable instance was the GFA’s failure to secure $40,000 for two friendly matches against Tunisia and Senegal last month, a setback that reportedly left her disheartened.

Under her leadership, the Black Queens displayed significant improvement, including a strong performance in the Women’s Olympic qualifiers, where she missed out narrowly to her soon-to-be new employer, Zambia.

She believed Ghana was in better place and the team’s failure left her broken, but she determined to make amends in Morocco.

However, the lack of resources and unmet demands ultimately strained her relationship with the GFA.

The GFA must now find a replacement as soon as possible to prepare the team for the AWCON.